Bothwell elected president of Civil Service Association

Members of the Cayman Islands Civil Service Association have elected John Bothwell as its new president, succeeding James Watler who served in the post for 10 years.

Mr. Bothwell, a research officer with the Department of Environment, takes the helm at the 51-year-old organization at a time when the civil service is seeing some salary increases and new capital investments by government.

He served for five years as a member of the association’s management council, working on the development of a strategic plan.

In a press release, Mr. Bothwell said, “We have a lot of issues that the Civil Service and the Association have been dealing with and more are coming at us full speed. This strategic plan is an opportunity for us to reassess which ones are most important and determine what are the preferred outcomes for Civil Servants, because with each of these challenges comes an opportunity for progress, and CICSA will be prepared to seize those opportunities.”

The association is collecting feedback from members as it crafts a new plan for the future of the Civil Service Association.

Mr. Watler hired a local company to help develop the strategic plan as one of his final acts as president. He explained in the press release that the planning process is intended to take “a deep, hard look at ourselves as we strategize in an effort to become the vibrant and dynamic organization that we are expected to be.”

The statement from the association cites the members at last month’s annual meeting and remembers outgoing president Mr. Watler as dedicated and professional. The association notes, “During every major discussion that has taken place in government, which had the potential to impact civil servants, Mr. Watler found a place at that table and represented the interests of civil servants.”

Mr. Watler, in the press release, said, “It was my pleasure to stand in the gaps for you, our very valuable members.